Choosing Sides: A Guide on Gnomish and Goblin Engineering

Well, I've seen a lot of people requesting "guides" on which specialization in Engineering they should go (either Goblin or Gnomish) and since recently leveling Engineering for a second time, I decided I'd fulfill that plea by creating this guide on choosing your path. Also this is my first time writing a guide, so bare with me .

As his name suggests he is...well a wiz of tinkering. When you are level 30 and reach 200 Engineering you can visit this guy in Ratchet and pick either one of two quests: Goblin Engineering or Gnomish Engineering (Alliance Version). Picking a quest will not immediately set your Engineering to that specialization, but instead refer you to the proper trainer for each specialization. So you still have time after accepting the quest to change your mind.

Choosing A SideGoblin Engineering

If you accepted Goblin Engineering, head on down to Gadgetzan in Northern Tanaris. When you arrive, you'll find Nixx Sprocketspring in a small hut next to the Inn. Now when you turn in your quest, Nixx, will give you The Pledge of Secrecy. At this point you can still make a last minute decision to change your mind.

Goblin Engineering allows you to make ingenious explosives and even a Rocket Launcher. Unlike Gnomish Engineering, Goblin devices never fail catastrophically and always work, they just either harm you severely or otherwise kill you. Now, when you turn in this quest, there's no turning back. Your Engineering is intertwined with Goblin Engineering permanently and only certain means can reverse the damage done and those "means" aren't exactly easy to achieve. I'll get into that later on in the guide.

Note: Goblin Engineering may be better for Alliance trying to grind reputation with the Wintersaber Trainers as a direct teleportation to Winterspring is available exclusively to Goblin Engineers.

Gnomish Engineering enables you to make bizzare gadgets. For instance, you can turn some one into a chicken or take control of their mind. The only drawback is Gnomish gadgets have a high chance of failure and is somewhat unreliable. Once you complete this quest, there's no turning back and your a Gnomish Engineer forever, preventing you from becoming a Goblin Engineer obviously.

Note: In 3.2, Horde will be able to obtain a Ravasaur mount by doing daily quests in the Southern Kalimdor area. Since Gnomish Engineers can teleport you directly to Gadgetzan, Horde players trying to go for the mount may want to choose Gnomish Engineering over Goblin.

So you leveled your engineering all the way and you think Gnomish Engineering is stupid, but you've already made your choice. So what do you do? Well, here's what you do.

Prior to patch 3.2 you had to relearn Engineering all over again. Well, that's not the case anymore. Instead just go to Narain Soothfancy's Hut in Northern Tanaris [Coords: 65, 18]. Then read his book, "Soothsaying for Dummies" and for a hefty 150 Gold you can unlearn your current Engineering Specialization without the consequences of losing the entire profession. You'll lose all schematics for the specialization,however, but retain all general Engineering items.

Well, that's it. I hope everyone liked this guide and found some use in it

Don't center all the text - people are used to seeing text that is left-justified. Make most of your text that way, it will seem more natural to people. You can still keep titles and pictures centered, but centering all the text just seems weird.

Uncheck "list" next to your attached pictures - all new guide writers make this mistake. Edit your guide, scroll to the bottom, and find your attachment list. If you uncheck the "list" box next to it, it won't be listed at the end of your guide but will still show up as the picture in your guide.

Why should we pick one or the other? - This guide does a great job of showing us HOW to pick one side or the other, and has a little bit of information on each side. But I feel like it could be fleshed out. Perhaps a list of all recipes that are specific to either gnomish or goblin engineering? I don't have any characters with engineering so I can't give specific advice, it just seems like you could elaborate a little bit on this.

You want to be really freaking sure - Stress the fact that its extremely bad to change professions before the reader chooses one. This wowhead comment outlines the awful and very stupid disadvantages brought on by switching engineering specs. Basically, it sucks. Make sure the readers know what they are getting into ahead of time.

That said, this is still a very nice guide, ESPECIALLY considering it is your first guide on the site. Great job and keep up the good work! I'm giving you a 4/5 for now, but if you address the things I pointed out, this is easily a 5/5 guide.

Good points, as always.
I tend to disagree with you on the don't center all the text.
I kind of like it this way, and I think it looks better this way than the other way around. It looks really neat in a way

I really agree with you on the Why should we pick one or the other? point.
My warlock is at 300/450 Engineering at the moment, and I haven't chosen yet. I think I'll go for Goblin though, assuming I'll get a pet + thehelmet.

Don't see anything of use in Gnomish Engineering (not counting in the Jumper Cables)

Oh, and you are right that there isn't really much useful about Gnomish Engineering anymore. In Pre-TBC, however, Gnomish Engineering was a major boost to some classes. I still remember exploiting the various Gnomish gadgets to the limits in PvP encounters with my mage and hunter, always getting the upper hand because of the profession.

Haha, alright I agree it doesn't look awesome like this, but I still think that centering it isn't the answer. I would suggest using [ list ] tags to break up the text a little, but that's just what I do As you say, it's entirely the author's choice and a purely stylistic argument anyway - it doesn't look hideous either way and is perfectly readable.